Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO10’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘LC NO10’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniform plant habit; freely branching habit with strong lateral branches; early and freely flowering habit with plants remaining in flower for a long period time; dense and hardy inflorescences with large white-colored sterile flowers that age attractively to purplish pink in color with development; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LC NO10’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Hydrangea Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Provisional application Ser. No. 62/973,658

Filed: Oct. 17, 2019

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S.Patent Application.

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘LC NO11’

Inventor/Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Inventor/Assignee, Mr. Alex Frederick Schoemakerof Boskoop, The Netherlands on Oct. 19, 2018, application number2018/2638. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata, commerciallyreferred to as a Hardy or Panicled Hydrangea and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘LC NO10’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new Hydrangea plants with uniformplant habit and attractive inflorescences.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2014 in Boskoop, The Netherlands, of Hydrangeapaniculata ‘Silver Dollar’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parentwith Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’, not patented, as the male,or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selectedby the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inBoskoop, The Netherlands in July, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tipcuttings in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands sinceAugust, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangeaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘LC NO10’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘LC NO10’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniform plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit with strong lateral branches.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit with plants remaining in        flower for a long period time.    -   4. Dense and hardy inflorescences with large white-colored        sterile flowers that age attractively to purplish pink in color        with development.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Silver Dollar’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Silver Dollar’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of        ‘Silver Dollar’.    -   2. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea become more        intense purplish pink in color with development than sterile        flowers of plants of ‘Silver Dollar’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the maleparent, ‘Vanille Fraise’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Vanille Fraise’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are more dense        than inflorescences of plants of ‘Vanille Fraise’.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are distally        more rounded than and not as pointed as inflorescences of plants        of ‘Vanille Fraise’.    -   3. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea become more        intense purplish pink in color with development than sterile        flowers of plants of ‘Vanille Fraise’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangeapaniculata ‘LC NO11’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filedconcurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangeadiffer primarily from plants of ‘LC NO11’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are shorter and more outwardly        spreading than plants of ‘LC NO11’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are not as vigorous as and grow        slower than plants of ‘LC NO11’.    -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea have fewer        sterile and fertile flowers than inflorescences of plants of ‘LC        NO11’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of theHydrangea paniculata ‘Diamant Rouge’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of‘Diamant Rouge’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have stronger and sturdier        lateral branches than plants of ‘Diamant Rouge’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have larger inflorescences than        plants of ‘Diamant Rouge’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘LC NO10’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of a typical leaf(top of sheet) and a typical inflorescence (bottom of sheet) of ‘LCNO10’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown during the late summer in 21-cm containers in anoutdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practicestypical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 35° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from about 12° C. to 22° C. Plants of the newHydrangea were pinched one time and were two years old when thephotographs and description were taken. As a Hardy or PanicledHydrangea, plants of the new Hydrangea are typically not treated withaluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘LC NO10’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘Silver            Dollar’, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille            Fraise’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 120 days            at temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent            on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            uniform plant habit; overall plant shape, flattened globular            to broad inverted triangular; strong and sturdy stems;            moderately vigorous growth habit and low to moderate growth            rate.        -   Plant height.—About 44.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 67.8 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—About twelve lateral branches develop per            plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.        -   Length.—About 28.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 5.4 cm.        -   Texture.—When developing, sparsely pubescent; fully            developed, woody.        -   Aspect.—Upright to about 25° to 40° from vertical.        -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.        -   Color.—When developing: Upper surface, tinged with close to            183C; lower surface, close to 148C to 148D. Developed: Close            to 200D; when woody, close to 199A to 199B.        -   Lenticels.—Density: Sparse; none observed on developing            stems. Size, developed stems: About 1 mm by 0.75 mm. Color,            developed stems: Close to 165C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of three, simple.        -   Length.—About 10.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to narrowly ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute to slightly apiculate.        -   Base.—Short acute to obtuse.        -   Margin.—Serrate; slightly and coarsely undulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately pubescent;            slightly rough.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147D. Fully            developed leaves, upper surface: Close to between 143A and            144A; venation, close to 152C. Fully developed leaves, lower            surface: Close to between 147D and 148C; venation, close to            195C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent;            matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely            pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 183A to            183B. Color, lower surface: Close to 176B and becoming            closer to 177B with development; proximally, close to 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and smaller            inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on terminal panicles;            panicles broadly conical in shape; sterile flowers face            upright to outwardly and slightly drooping depending on            their position in the inflorescence; fertile flowers face            mostly upright.        -   Fragrance.—Faint to moderate, sweet and pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering begins in the midsummer            and is continuous until late summer in Northern Europe.        -   Flower longevity.—Sterile flowers last about six weeks on            the plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last            about five days on the plant, fertile flowers not            persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 250            sterile flowers and about 165 fertile flowers per panicle.        -   Panicle height.—About 16.8 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 14.7 cm.        -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About            1.2 cm. Shape: Cup-shaped. Color: Close to between 145B and            145C.        -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 145C; towards the            apex, slightly tinged with close to 70D; immature calyx,            close to 145B.        -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 3.6 cm.        -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 9 mm.        -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 1 cm.        -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 7 mm.        -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four or            occasionally five arranged in a single whorl. Length: About            3 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex:            Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture            and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to            NN155D; color does not change with development. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155B; distally,            tinged with close to 59D; color does not change with            development.        -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five            arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 3.5 mm. Width:            About 1.75 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to NN155D; color does not change with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D;            distally, tinged with close to 59D; color does not change            with development.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically            four or occasionally five arranged in a single whorl.            Length: About 1.9 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Obovate,            slightly concave. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to between 150D and 155A. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 155A; with subsequent            development, color becoming closer to between 61D and 62B.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155A; with            subsequent development, color becoming closer to 65D and            towards the margins and apex, close to 62C.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a            single whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 1.25 mm.            Shape: Broadly deltoid. Apex: Broadly acuminate. Base:            Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 192B. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 192C. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 150D; color does not change with            development.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 50°            from branch axis. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;            matte. Color: Close to 157D.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter:            About 0.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 15°            from vertical. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte.            Color: Close to 155A.        -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About eight. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament            color: Close to NN155D. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther            shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 157A. Pistils:            Pistil quantity per flower: Typically one. Pistil length:            About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Pointed. Stigma color: Close to            157D. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to            155A. Ovary color: Close to 155A.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: About ten. Filament length: About 5.5 mm. Filament            color: Close to between NN155D and 157D. Anther length:            About 0.5 mm. Anther shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color:            Close to 197C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close            to 157A. Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: Typically            three. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped.            Stigma color: Close to 155A. Style length: About 1 mm. Style            color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close to 150D.        -   Seeds.—To date, seed production has not been observed on            plants of the new Hydrangea.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production    conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be    resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed    have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zones 5 through 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO10’ asillustrated and described.